The NBA lockout has been looming for quite some time. No one seemed to pay much thought to the matter until lately, when the first weeks of the NBA season were cancelled. Now the lockout is in full effect. Players, coaches, and fans alike are all suffering the consequences. NBA fans are obviously upset, but the people most affected by the lockout are the players. Players who are under current contract really do not have as much to be concerned about. However, there are many top players who happen to be free agents, and the lockout is leaving their season and their futures in limbo.

The biggest free agent name this season is Tim Duncan. As an all-star forward for the San Antonio Spurs for the past decade, Duncan will go down in the history books as one of the greatest of all-time. However, for the first time in his career Duncan has no idea where or if he will be playing this year. This situation is a first for every player in the league, but especially in Duncan’s case. Unlike most players in the modern free agency era, Duncan has spent his entire career playing for the same team. Due to Read the rest of this entry »

The Mavs are starting a crucial journey away from home that might assist them climb into 2nd place within the West or drop them as low as 4th. They will attempt to get the high for the year 6 game span off to a good beginning Saturday evening when they pay a visit to the lagging Jazz with an opportunity to sweep the 4 game season series.

The Mavs ( 50 – 21 ) are in the 3rd position in the West playoff picture, with just a slight margin separating them from the 2nd place Lakers. The Thunder are in 4th. The upcoming journey away from home might have large implications for the Mavs within the rankings. The 9 day trip includes 3 sets of contests on back to back evenings & a trip to the Lakers next Thursday, however 4 of the 6 games are versus clubs presently out-side post-season contention. The Mavs, who have won 12 of their previous 15 games away from home, are trying to pickup their 3rd consecutive overall. The Mavs are returning from a 104 – 96 victory against the Timberwolves on Thursday. Dirk Nowitzki got thirty points & eleven boards while Jason Terry put in 18. The 2 totalled for nineteen points within the last quarter.

The Mavs will be relying upon their improved depth and experience as they begin this hard trek away from home. Shawn Marion came

Read the rest of this entry »

The Magic’s offensive attack has added to their current inconsistency, however they have ground out their previous 2 victories with excellent defending. Orlando will attempt to pickup their 3rd consecutive & sweep the season sequence versus the Cavs on Monday evening at Quicken Loans Arena. The Magic ( 44 – 26 ) have picked up 3 of 4, however with twelve matchups left they continue to be 4 matchups behind the Heat for 3rd place within the East.

While Orlando has posted a record of 19 – 14 since their high for the year 9 game winning run December 23rd to January 8th, they will attempt to start another rally after back to back tough fought wins. Following an OT victory against the Bucks on Wednesday, the Magic beat the Nuggets 85 – 82 on Friday in spite of throwing up 37.3 %, their worst % during a victory this year. Jameer Nelson nailed a three point shot as the clock ran out to assist the club walk away with the win.

Defense has been vital for the Magic, which have allowed less than 90 points in each of their previous 3 victories. It kept the Nuggets to 35.9 % from the floor & their worst point total of the year. While the Magic are happy with their energy on defense, on offense they are perplexed. They have given up 18.3 turn-overs the previous 3 matchups, 3.5 above their year mark, & they have put in 85 or less points 4 times while shooting 4 – 4 during their previous 8. In spite of their offensive problems, the Magic think their defending is on the right path sufficient to assist them pull out games when the offense is out to lunch. The Magic have a strong opportunity to increase their winning run Monday. They have picked up 5 consecutive versus the Cavs, which includes 3 matchups this year. Dwight Howard had difficulties with foul trouble during his previous trip to Cleveland, completing having twelve points & 6 boards December 28th, however he had twenty points & twenty rebounds during a 103 – 87 home court victory January 30th.

The Cavs ( 13 – 55 ) have dropped 6 of 7 & their previous 2. Following a 111 – 70 loss at the Rose Garden vs. the Blazers on Thursday, the Cavs dropped during a 100 – 92 defeat to the Clippers on Saturday. Cleveland go back to within 2 points early during the final period, however the Cavs had 5 turn-overs within the last period & 2 during the previous 3 minutes of the contest. J.J. Hickson got twenty-eight points & 9 boards, however additionally 4 of the club’s fifteen turn-overs. Baron Davis skipped the matchup with back spasms. He put in 3 points in fifteen minutes Thursday following skipping the last 3 matchups after the death of his grandmother. His standing for Monday is not known.

The Magic’s defending might put on an additional outstanding display as the Cavs have put in 84.3 points & put in 41.2 % the previous 7 matchups.

This year has been a down one for the Phoenix Suns. The team has gone through a rebuilding effort over the past season, but they still have a long way to go before they are once more in championship form. Steve Nash is still their most valuable asset, but as he gets older he is no longer the kind of force that can carry a team solo. Nash is still the perfect guy to run the offense through, but he is losing his pop, and needs more skill players behind him.

Phoenix looks to miss the playoffs this season, a lack of team chemistry being one of their major issues. While the Suns have had a decent late season runs, key losses in close games have been this teams curse all season long. The team has a lot of good assets, and top notch coaching, but a lack of team continuity has dogged the Suns heels all season long. They also seem to collapse under pressure. The team has the ability to play behind, but they never seem to capitalize on that ability.

For Phoenix to try and fight their way back into the playoff picture they are going to have to really learn how to work together as a single unit. Steve

Read the rest of this entry »

Even when their personnel wasn’t 100%, the Bucks had been perplexed to remain in post-season picture. Playing beat-up has only accelerated their issues. The Bucks, although, may get starting C Andrew Bogut back as soon as Tuesday evening versus the Wizards, who may be not having 2 starters.

The Bucks ( 23 – 38 ) dropped for the twelfth occasion in Boston & completed 1 – 3 on a 4 game set on their homecourt with Sunday’s 89 – 83 loss to the Celtics. Bogut, putting in 12.6 points & a team-high 11.5 boards, skipped his 3rd consecutive matchup having a strained ribcage muscle, & fellow Front-court players Ersan Ilyasova who has a concussion & Drew Gooden who has a left foot injury departed had also been on the sidelines.

F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, however, came back from an illness having a high for the year nineteen points, however the Bucks put in only 1 point against the last 3:35 on Boston, who had 9 players available. That loss put the Bucks 3.5 games back of 8th place Pacers within the East, however Bogut’s come back may assist the Bucks begin a Read the rest of this entry »

Is not it strange, as Chicago does not have a problem with any other team than Charlotte, while Charlotte seems to not be able to win with anyone else than the Bulls?

That was yesterday, a match between two teams that got me wondering about what to be honest.

Even though the two teams were close, with Charlotte winning by one point only 83-82, he still Bobcats, which left the field victorious.

I still can not get my head around it, but there must be something between these two teams, do not you think?

With the Bobcats DJ Augustin scored 15 of his team-mate Gerard Wallace added 13 more, plus 6 rebounds, helping his team win.

But despite this Bulls put some great games too, and the overall result is proof that too is not it? I mean, how often you have an account so close to a tie, if the team plays really crap game?
Almost never, right?
Read the rest of this entry »

I certainly wouldn’t call the Lakers’ last performance a gem or a show off of virtuosity. The Suns weren’t particularly bad either, they just, well, were slightly worse that the very average performance from Kobe Bryants team, that’s all.

With the overall score of 99-95 the game was just, plain.
Read the rest of this entry »

Celtics coach Doc Rivers can dig into the past and recall when the Celtics revamped their lineup 3 seasons ago. Yes, the ability had been there with the Big 3. So were the concerns.

Currently envision a tremendous mid-season shake – up.

The Celtics will encounter a rebuilt Orlando club Saturday attempting to duplicate the speedy turn-around, only doing so in December, that launched the Celtics to instant champions, giving this Eastern Conference finals re-match a Christmas Day remix.

The Magic were knocked out by the Celtics within 6 games the previous year.

An early skid compelled Orlando to put together 2 monumental deals the previous weekend that landed Gilbert Arenas from the Wizards & Hedo Turkoglu , Jason Richardson and Earl Clark from the Suns. They gave up Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Marcin Gortat & Mickael Pietrus, + a 2011 1st round draft choice and $$$, in the trades.

Now one debate to be answered is do they matchup more Read the rest of this entry »

The 76ers are extremely conscious that Chris Paul has dominated with his passing versus Eastern Conference competitors.

Paul & New Orleans attempt to carry on their momentum versus Eastern opponents Sunday when they take a trip to the Wells Fargo Center vs. the 76ers.

The Hornets (14 – are starting a 2 game stretch which includes Monday’s game versus the Heat with a 6 – 1 mark versus squads from the East. Of Paul’s eleven matchups this year with at least 10 dishes, 6 have been delivered in these games.

Paul is 2nd within the NBA having 10.4 dishes per game; However his 15.8 goal-scoring average is the worst of his 6 season career. The 3 time All Star will be Trying to make amends following feeling he was out-played Friday during a 97 – 92 home court defeat to the Thunder.

Paul got eighteen points, 7 dishes & 5 steals, however his counter-part at point guard , Russell Westbrook , got twenty-nine points & ten assists.

New Orleans have dropped 7 of 10 since their 11 – 1 beginning. They are Read the rest of this entry »

As the Pacers have lagged on their home floor this year, the Clippers cannot seem to find a victory irrespective of where or what court their on.

The Pacers expect to prevent a 3rd consecutive defeat on their home court while attempting to lengthen the injured Clippers’ losing skid to 8 games Thursday evening.

Indiana (4-5) went 23-18 on the Pacers home floor; Conseco Fieldhouse last season, however has lost 3 of its 1st 5 there this year, with the exception of the 144-113 thumping of the Nuggets on November. 9th Indiana has not put up 100 points in their other 4 games on their home floor.

A sixteen point 3rd quarter condemned the Pacers in a 102-92 home defeat to the Hawks on Tuesday. Danny Granger put in twenty-two points & Roy Hibbert put in 18 having a personal best fifteen boards, however Indiana went four of eighteen from beyond the arc .

A trip by the Clippers (1-11) may help Indiana switch stuff all-around.

However the Clippers picked up the 2 club’s last matchup, 88-72 in Los Angeles December. 5th & taken 2 of a few in Indiana, the Clippers have the League’s Read the rest of this entry »